Cast a few rifle bullets with 30-1 alloy today, not very happy with the results. Couldn't seem to find the right temp but eventually cast a few I could live with. While I was waiting for the temp to adjust itself I sorted my first bucket of ww's. :) Only found a handful of zinc but quite a few marked "Fe", decided to save them to cast into a Dutch oven as soon as I decide to get a real smelting outfit. ;) Wound up with almost 60 lbs of good weights and about 5 lbs of lead stick-ons. Quite a few iron stick-ons as well, they went into the "Dutch oven" bucket.
For some reason I decided to jump in and smelt a few lbs of ww's and cast some boolits for a .45 Colt. New moulds been sitting around too long. ;) WW's melted nicely and it was quite amusing watching the clips float to the top. Before I knew it I'd smelted almost 20 lbs for a "test batch". Funny thing, ww's had less stuff (other than clips) to skim off after fluxing than my "store bought" lead. :confused: Another funny thing: 45 Colt boolits cast quite nicely once I determined the right temp. Then I decided to try the rifle molds again, had to go a little hot & frosty on the big ones but the rifle boolits came out very nicely too. :D
I finally figured it out, you guys like ww's not just because they're cheap. Seems they're also better than store-bought lead for some applications. Not sure how they'll do in my BPCR but it doesn't seem to like the hard 20-1 boolits.
Your secret's safe with me. :D

DiscoRacing

August 28, 2010, 10:16 PM

Nice to hear that your progressing... dont get frustrated... I always use only straight wheel weights... ive never had a problem with them..

TXGunNut

August 28, 2010, 10:32 PM

Far from frustrated, DR, today's one of the best days I've had in weeks! Spent a nice relaxing day outside, learned a few new things and have quite a few nice shiny boolits to show for it.

DiscoRacing

August 29, 2010, 05:26 PM

nice shiny boolits to show for it

Other than shooting them.... making them is as good as it gets:eek:

GP100man

August 29, 2010, 06:58 PM

Nuttin like the feelin of independence from the bullet manufacturers !!!

Now a slave to the mold makers ,& scroungin lead ,WHAT JOY !!!!!

That`s rite I`m an addict !!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

DiscoRacing

August 29, 2010, 07:08 PM

That`s rite I`m an addict !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty sure that Im close to qualifying for that also>>>!!!

TXGunNut

August 29, 2010, 09:10 PM

Hope there's not a 12-step program for this. Last time I had this much fun it involved handcuffs, a judge and lots of paperwork. ;) :D

TXGunNut

August 29, 2010, 09:17 PM

Too busy loading up dozens and dozens of jacketed levergun bullets :eek: to lubrisize and load my shiny new boolits today. Got the brass worked but will weigh, lubrisize and load another day. I guess I just want to look at them for a few more days. :D

reloader28

August 30, 2010, 08:18 AM

I think the planets were all aligned just right last night, cause out of around 400 boolits I cast, I only rejected about 6.:D

Everything was working so perfect, I hated to quit. Its raining today and I cant work, maybe I'll try again.

TXGunNut

August 30, 2010, 06:57 PM

I had a run like that with the new 45 Colt boolits I was casting. It was hard to stop but I wanted to try another mould with that alloy. Hope today went smoothly as well.

Steve T

September 14, 2010, 01:53 PM

Well I think I did have a frustrating night. I just pulled out my 9mm mold and have not used it in a WHILE. I started casting and I am getting hairline ridges all around my bullets. So I figured it was a piece of trash I need to work out so I kept casting. Then I took a copper brush and a cloth and wiped it down and kept casting... I think it starting going away and getting a LITTLE better around 300-400 lol. Guess I know what I will be doing tonight haha

But I agree you really cant get mad at it. Just smile and keep on going :D

GP100man

September 14, 2010, 08:26 PM

SteveT

Welcome to the casting forum !!!!!!!sit back & enjoy & join in ifin ya can or want . Been castin long ????

Sounds as if some lube of some type was leachin out & cookin off , do you put anything on ya molds for storage ???

Alloy temp hi enuff???

The last Lee mold I purchased it took 2 sessions to "cook" out the machinin lube & that was after boilin it for 15min.